Glenville State Baseball Picked Eighth in South Division

Princeton, WV – The 2011 WVIAC Tournament participant Davis & Elkins Senators have been selected to win the 2012 WVIAC Tournament, voted on by the league coaches.

The Senators were picked on five ballots to win the tournament, while WV State was on four. Seton Hill was chosen to win the WVIAC Tournament by two coaches. Pitt-Johnstown and WV Wesleyan also received a vote to win the prestigious postseason event.

In the North, Seton Hill picked up 12 of the 15 first-place votes for 101 total points. Pitt-Johnstown grabbed two first-place nods and 83 points while Fairmont State was first on one ballot in the division. Josh Logan led the Griffins with a .383 average while Mike Leviseur hit .364 a season ago. Also returning is hurler Brad Schnelle, who was 6-2 a season ago. The Mountain Cats return Kyle Morrow, who belted out a .358 average and Seth Roy, who batted .327 in 2011. Alex Naggy had a 3.51 ERA a season ago.

Wheeling Jesuit was picked to finish third in the North with 61 points, edging out Shepherd, who picked up 59 points. West Liberty garnered 44 points for fifth while Alderson-Broaddus (40 points) and the Falcons (32 points) rounded out the division.

The Cardinals’ hot-hitting bats of Mike Ludewig (.307) and Jordan Medley (.365) from a season ago return to the line-up for 2012. Tim Giebel and Brenden Gillies tied for the team lead in wins – and both are back this season.

Nathan Minnich hit .433 a season ago for the Rams. He, Aaron Scoville and Nash Hutter make up a strong core for SU this season. Justin Byrd and Paul Hvozdovic, who tied for the team lead in wins – return for 2012.

Mike Johnson paces the Hilltoppers with a .323 average a season ago. Mike Reef posted a team-low ERA among pitchers who threw at least 50 innings. He also struck out 34 batters.

Bobby McLaughlin hit .363 a season ago while Mike Hackett hit .341 for the Battlers. Jeff Conley appeared in 15 games and won a team-high four contests. FSU’s Jimmy Earp headlines a strong list of hitters after posting a 3.59 average in 2011. Craig Szymczak (.301) is also back for the Falcons. As a freshman, Nick Mayle appeared in a team-best 16 games and went 4-1.

In the South, the Yellow Jackets had seven first-place votes to notch 108 points. Defending WVIAC champion Concord picked up four first-place nods and 101 total points while Davis & Elkins was also first on four ballots and totaled 92 points.

WVSU sophomore Andrew Pickering belted out a .366 average a season ago, tops among returners who played in at least half of the Yellow Jackets’ games. Jordan Butcher appeared in 13 games last year, registering a mere 1.02 ERA. Jacob Mays hit .382 in 2011 for CU and should be a force in the line-up again this year. Bret Blevins is coming off a .374 rookie campaign while Keith Morrisroe hit .357. Ryan Weatherholtz paced the team with eight victories last season. The Senators are led by junior Anthony Ragos’ .365 average. Eric Doyle hit .335 in 2011. Josh Kehr is the top returning hurler after notching six wins.

The Bobcats of WV Wesleyan garnered 82 points and were picked to finish second in the division on two ballots. Gene Franks is coming off a year where he led WVWC with a .396 batting average while Mark Darlington returns with a .344 average a season ago. Ryan Lewicki tallied a .338 average, as the trio should once again pace the Bobcats.

The University of Charleston totaled 59 points for fifth in the South and Ohio Valley was chosen sixth with 42 points. For the Golden Eagles, Nick Barnes and Andy Stitcher hit .300 and .313, respectively, in 2011. Tim Ponn picked up five wins and carried a 3.12 ERA a year ago. Michael Shepherd was second on the Fighting Scots squad in 2011 with a .320 average. Ryan Highman shared team-high honors in wins and started a team-high 11 games.

Bluefield State (36 points) and first-year program Glenville State (42 points) round out the division. The Big Blues return Travis Thompson, who finished second on the team in doubles while hitting .286. He also had a .965 fielding percentage. Chris Rabe was second on the team in wins while tossing 62 innings on the season in 2011. The Pioneers boast just two upperclassmen on the squad, one of which is a senior in Jeremy Tindell at first. Junior Ronald Loy will catch for GSC. The team also features two sophomores and 11 freshmen.
2012 WVIAC Preseason Poll
North1. Seton Hill (12) 101
2. Pitt-Johnstown (2) 83
3. Wheeling Jesuit 61
4. Shepherd 59
5. West Liberty 44
6. Alderson-Broaddus 40
7. Fairmont State (1) 32

Princeton, WV – The 2011 WVIAC Tournament participant Davis & Elkins Senators have been selected to win the 2012 WVIAC Tournament, voted on by the league coaches.

The Senators were picked on five ballots to win the tournament, while WV State was on four. Seton Hill was chosen to win the WVIAC Tournament by two coaches. Pitt-Johnstown and WV Wesleyan also received a vote to win the prestigious postseason event.

In the North, Seton Hill picked up 12 of the 15 first-place votes for 101 total points. Pitt-Johnstown grabbed two first-place nods and 83 points while Fairmont State was first on one ballot in the division. Josh Logan led the Griffins with a .383 average while Mike Leviseur hit .364 a season ago. Also returning is hurler Brad Schnelle, who was 6-2 a season ago. The Mountain Cats return Kyle Morrow, who belted out a .358 average and Seth Roy, who batted .327 in 2011. Alex Naggy had a 3.51 ERA a season ago.

Wheeling Jesuit was picked to finish third in the North with 61 points, edging out Shepherd, who picked up 59 points. West Liberty garnered 44 points for fifth while Alderson-Broaddus (40 points) and the Falcons (32 points) rounded out the division.

The Cardinals’ hot-hitting bats of Mike Ludewig (.307) and Jordan Medley (.365) from a season ago return to the line-up for 2012. Tim Giebel and Brenden Gillies tied for the team lead in wins – and both are back this season.

Nathan Minnich hit .433 a season ago for the Rams. He, Aaron Scoville and Nash Hutter make up a strong core for SU this season. Justin Byrd and Paul Hvozdovic, who tied for the team lead in wins – return for 2012.

Mike Johnson paces the Hilltoppers with a .323 average a season ago. Mike Reef posted a team-low ERA among pitchers who threw at least 50 innings. He also struck out 34 batters.

Bobby McLaughlin hit .363 a season ago while Mike Hackett hit .341 for the Battlers. Jeff Conley appeared in 15 games and won a team-high four contests. FSU’s Jimmy Earp headlines a strong list of hitters after posting a 3.59 average in 2011. Craig Szymczak (.301) is also back for the Falcons. As a freshman, Nick Mayle appeared in a team-best 16 games and went 4-1.

In the South, the Yellow Jackets had seven first-place votes to notch 108 points. Defending WVIAC champion Concord picked up four first-place nods and 101 total points while Davis & Elkins was also first on four ballots and totaled 92 points.

WVSU sophomore Andrew Pickering belted out a .366 average a season ago, tops among returners who played in at least half of the Yellow Jackets’ games. Jordan Butcher appeared in 13 games last year, registering a mere 1.02 ERA. Jacob Mays hit .382 in 2011 for CU and should be a force in the line-up again this year. Bret Blevins is coming off a .374 rookie campaign while Keith Morrisroe hit .357. Ryan Weatherholtz paced the team with eight victories last season. The Senators are led by junior Anthony Ragos’ .365 average. Eric Doyle hit .335 in 2011. Josh Kehr is the top returning hurler after notching six wins.

The Bobcats of WV Wesleyan garnered 82 points and were picked to finish second in the division on two ballots. Gene Franks is coming off a year where he led WVWC with a .396 batting average while Mark Darlington returns with a .344 average a season ago. Ryan Lewicki tallied a .338 average, as the trio should once again pace the Bobcats.

The University of Charleston totaled 59 points for fifth in the South and Ohio Valley was chosen sixth with 42 points. For the Golden Eagles, Nick Barnes and Andy Stitcher hit .300 and .313, respectively, in 2011. Tim Ponn picked up five wins and carried a 3.12 ERA a year ago. Michael Shepherd was second on the Fighting Scots squad in 2011 with a .320 average. Ryan Highman shared team-high honors in wins and started a team-high 11 games.

Bluefield State (36 points) and first-year program Glenville State (42 points) round out the division. The Big Blues return Travis Thompson, who finished second on the team in doubles while hitting .286. He also had a .965 fielding percentage. Chris Rabe was second on the team in wins while tossing 62 innings on the season in 2011. The Pioneers boast just two upperclassmen on the squad, one of which is a senior in Jeremy Tindell at first. Junior Ronald Loy will catch for GSC. The team also features two sophomores and 11 freshmen.
2012 WVIAC Preseason Poll
North1. Seton Hill (12) 101
2. Pitt-Johnstown (2) 83
3. Wheeling Jesuit 61
4. Shepherd 59
5. West Liberty 44
6. Alderson-Broaddus 40
7. Fairmont State (1) 32